Kaz Hirai's not Sony's big-wig just yet.

Following reports that the cheery gaffer had been promoted to presidential status, the Japanese company has released a statement refuting the claims — stating that "nothing has been determined at this time".

Given the comment's wording — and original source Nikkei's penchant for successfully seeing into the future — we're guessing that Hirai's promotion is pretty much in the bag, and that Sony just doesn't want people to know yet.

We're fine with that, because it gives us another opportunity to make misplaced Ridge Racer jokes when the promotion is eventually announced somewhere down the line.